By: Yuritza Arroyo
A Georgia man was arrested by police after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Newark Liberty International Airport stopped him with a .38 caliber handgun in his carry-on bag earlier today (April 28).
According to TSA officials, the firearm was loaded with six bullets.
When the TSA officer spotted the gun in the checkpoint X-ray machine in Terminal B, Port Authority Police were alerted, came to the checkpoint, and confiscated the weapon from the man before arresting him on weapons charges.
According to authorities, the man told officials that he forgot that he had his loaded gun with him.
When an individual shows up at a checkpoint with a firearm, the checkpoint lane comes to a standstill until the police resolve the incident.
TSA officials say Guns at checkpoints can delay travelers from getting to their gates.
This individual also faces a stiff federal financial civil penalty for bringing a gun to a security checkpoint.
According to authorities, the penalty for bringing a weapon to a TSA checkpoint can cost as much as $15,000, depending on the circumstances.
“Bringing a gun to our checkpoints is a serious security and safety concern,” said Thomas Carter, TSA’s Federal Security Director for New Jersey.
“The fact that this individual told us that he forgot that he had a loaded gun with him is equally disconcerting. Responsible gun owners know where their gun is at all times. Guns should never be brought to the security checkpoint in carry-on luggage.”
Last year, 6,542 firearms were caught at 262 out of 430 airport security checkpoints nationwide.
Eighty-eight percent of those guns were loaded.
TSA firearms catches at airport checkpoints at Newark Liberty International Airport, 2018 to 2023